BANGKOK, June 15 (TNA) – Thai rice appears to have a promising prospect in the Eastern European nations, with Russia and the Ukraine firstly placing orders for 140,000 tonnes of Thai rice, according to a senior foreign trade official.

Thailand has a good opportunity to expand its rice exports to the former states of the Soviet Union, the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Foreign Trade, Vichak Visetnoi, told journalists on Tuesday.

Mr. Vichak made his comments after returning from a recent trade trip to Russia’s Saint Petersburg and the Ukrainian capital city of Kiev.

Thai officials and representatives from five major rice exporters took part in the Thai fragrant rice fairs there.

Rice importers in both nations have shown interest in Thai rice, he said.

Agreements to import at least 140,000 tonnes of Thai rice were made, he disclosed.

“This shows that Thai rice has been well accepted in Russia and the Ukraine. I believe we can expand our market there even further as our grain is less expensive, compared to rival exporters,” he said.

Meanwhile, Angstrem Company, a main Russian rice importer, has offered to help promote Thai fragrant rice in the local market.

It predicted that Thai Hom Mali rice exports could command a 200,000 tonnes market share within five years.

Russia consumes 720,000 tonnes of white rice a year, but produces only 300,000 tonnes a year.

The country needs to import at least 400,000 tonnes of rice to meet domestic demand.

Last year, Russia imported nearly 110,000 tonnes of Thai rice.

The Ukraine is a relatively new market for Thailand and imports around a 100,000 tonnes of rice a year.

The Ukraine is also a gateway to other Eastern European nations, Mr. Vichak said.

The Ukraine is expected to join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) by the end of this year